Two former Conservative party members have helped set up a new UKIP borough group in Bridgend, which has vowed to 'contest every election possible'

Chris Smart, a former Conservative, has been elected chairman of the new Bridgend UKIP branch

There is a new face on the Bridgend political map after a UKIP branch was officially formulated in Bridgend.

The right-leaning party have elected officers for a new borough group and are vowing to “contest every election possible” in Bridgend in coming years.

The move follows a spike in popularity for the Euro-sceptic party and unprecedented success in local elections across the UK last month.

Between 30 and 40 people attended a second meeting of the new Bridgend branch to see Conservative defect and former Porthcawl councillor Chris Smart take on the lead role of chairman.

Another ex-Tory, Caroline Jones, who last October stood as the Conservative’s candidate in the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner in South Wales, was elected vice chairwoman.

“We intend to stand in as many seats as possible and we will try and contest every seat that comes up,” she said.

Cafe owner Mrs Jones, who stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Tories in Aberavon in 2010, also vowed to bid to succeed outgoing UKIP MEP for Wales John Bufton, who announced he will stand down next year for personal reasons.

And on a local level she hopes UKIP’s surge will last long enough to see their first ever councillor elected in Bridgend in 2017.

“We are going on a massive recruitment drive,” she said.

“We are going to be knocking as many doors as possible and informing as many people as possible about what we stand for.

“I would like to see UKIP councillor in the chamber in Bridgend next term.”

Another branch meeting is planned for Tuesday.

Opposition parties greeted the news by questioning UKIP’s credibility on issues other than the European debate.

“UKIP presents itself as being a single issue party,” said councillor Cheryl Green, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Bridgend County Borough Council.

“And until it produces credible policies other than the assertion they will take us out of Europe, then I regard them as a gimmick party.

“The majority of people in Bridgend tend to be more middle of the road. I would not see UKIP making much impact in the area.”

Labour group leader Mel Nott OBE added: “We live in a free and democratic society so it’s up to them if they want to set up a local branch of UKIP, though I certainly don’t subscribe to their policies and principles.

“I think what this does demonstrate is the sixes and sevens the Tories and Lib Dems find themselves in.”

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